Background: The electrochemical conversion of waste CO2 to useful and storable products is a promising strategy for the mitigation and reduction of atmospheric CO2 emissions to combat climate change. Electrochemical technology is becoming increasingly attractive because of the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources (wind, solar, tidal etc) providing cheap off-peak electricity. However, there remain major scientific and engineering challenges to achieving a viable process for CO2 conversion. These include controlling the selectivity of CO2 conversion and increasing the lifetime of electrocatalysts at realistic current density.
Objectives: To control the selectivity of CO2 conversion to valuable products derived from C-C coupling of CO2 molecules and limit fouling of CO2 electrocatalysts.
Experimental Approach: The project is a chemistry-physics collaboration encompassing materials, electrochemistry, and nanoparticle synthesis. Two complementary lines of research will be explored to understand the relationship between electrocatalyst nanostructure and CO2 product distribution. Firstly, nanoparticles of electrocatalytic metals and their alloys will be prepared using methodology that allows control of size, shape and composition, which will be incorporated into electrochemical CO2 apparatus. The products from CO2 reaction will be monitored in real-time using online chromatographic techniques and correlated with nanoparticle properties. Secondly, strategies for modifying the surface chemistry and environment of the electrocatalyst will be used to further control selectivity, and also prevent fouling which limits operational efficiency. This project builds on existing expertise available at York, in nanoparticle synthesis, electrochemistry, and CO2 conversion. Apparatus are available for bespoke nanoparticle synthesis in Physics, and testing and analysis of CO2 electrocatalysis in Chemistry. Structural characterisation of electrocatalysts before and after reaction will also be available using in-house instrumentation including state-of-the-art electron microscopies at the York JEOL Nanocentre.
Novelty: There is considerable interest in carbon capture storage and carbon capture utilization of CO2 but there remain fundamental scientific challenges that need to be resolved. The novelty of the proposed work arises from the combination of expertise across chemistry and physics to target specific catalytic surfaces and sites and place them in a precise local environment that will control the rate of process that determine operational efficiency. Catalyst tuning will promote C-C coupling products whereas environmental tuning will reduce parasitic proton reduction to hydrogen, and fouling by contaminants. Whilst much work has been undertaken to understand electrocatalytic CO2 utilisation there is relatively little work understanding fouling which is a key problem for a viable process that uses a waste stream of CO2 containing multiple other components.
Training: The project is interdisciplinary and a student will gain broad experience across materials synthesis and characterisation, practical electrochemistry and product analysis. There will be the opportunity to develop specialist skills in techniques including electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, gas chromatography and NMR spectroscopy. The University of York also has a broad training programme in transferrable skills and a student would have access to specialist training courses offered by Chemistry and Physics Departments. Students are encouraged to participate in regular symposia and conferences.
All Chemistry research students have access to our innovative Doctoral Training in Chemistry (iDTC): cohort-based training to support the development of scientific, transferable and employability skills: https://www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/postgraduate/idtc/
The Department of Chemistry holds an Athena SWAN Gold Award and is committed to supporting equality and diversity for all staff and students. The Department strives to provide a working environment which allows all staff and students to contribute fully, to flourish, and to excel: https://www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/ed/.
For more information about the project, click on the supervisor's name above to email the supervisor. For more information about the application process or funding, please click on email institution
This PhD will formally start on 1 October 2021. Induction activities will start on 27 September.
To apply for this project, submit an online PhD in Chemistry application: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/apply?course=DRPCHESCHE3
Continue with Facebook
